Best NBA Player to Come Out of the Big East

[Blue Blood]

While at a bar over the weekend was talking to my PC fan buddy about how Ray was at the game on Friday. That conversation eventually evolved into who is the best NBA player to ever come out of the big east. I'll preface by saying we are in our mid 30s so not overly savvy on 80s early 90s BE but our list came down to four names Ray, Ewing, Iverson, and Melo. I'm sure we likely forgot people but who does the yard think is the best NBA player to come out of the BE.

 

[Huskybass]

Mullin from SJ deserves a mention.

Ray has 2 NBA Championships, but my gut says Ewing is the correct answer.

 

[superjohn]

Iverson. If we're including schools in the Big East now, Wade.

 

[Scottzer]

I’d give Alonzo Mourning a mention as well.

 

[tykurez]

Patrick Ewing
Ray Allen
Chris Mullin
Allen Iverson
Carmelo Anthony

I think that’s your list and in the correct order. Everyone else is a tier below that imo.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I’d give Alonzo Mourning a mention as well.

Except that he wasn't as good as Ewing.

The top Big East scorer all time is Carmelo Anthony. Ewing is next.
Iverson is not on the top assist list, but Mark Jackson is 6th.
Mutumbo (#2), Ewing (#7) and Mourning (#11) are top 25 in blocks. Ewing and Mutumbo are on the rebounds list.

 

[HuskyFich]

Top 5
1. Patrick Ewing
2. Ray Allen
3. Chris Mullin
4. Carmelo Anthony
5. Allen Iverson

HMs: Mutombo, Wade, Rip, Mourning

 

[CardiacAndre7]

AI won an MVP and is a 3-Time NBA 1st teamer. If he isn’t AT LEAST 2nd on the list, the list is wrong. Ewing is his only rival.

 

[Scottzer]

Except that he wasn't as good as Ewing.

The top Big East scorer all time is Carmelo Anthony. Ewing is next.
Iverson is not on the top assist list, but Mark Jackson is 6th.
Mutumbo (#2), Ewing (#7) and Mourning (#11) are top 25 in blocks. Ewing and Mutumbo are on the rebounds list.

I agree - heck MJ even said he’d pick Ewing as the guy (excluding himself) that he would start a team with. I just said a mention - I don’t think Mourning was as good as Ewing.

 

[Waquoit]

Iverson was such a non-winner he lost in the Olympics.

 

[husky429]

It's either Ewing or Iverson, and it depends on how you define "best."

Best pure basketball ability? Iverson.

Most beneficial piece to a winning team? Ewing.

Allen is close behind those two.

Melo right after him.

 

[JakeTheDog]

Melo is nowhere near the top all-time scorers in BE history.

One and done.

He has the most NBA points of any former Big East player.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Ewing was a 4 year impact player in BE when schools were dominated by upper classes.

3 FF's . One win against Houston and Olajuwon. Two of the most iconic losses in chip game.

He's a clear #1.

You can argue over Mullin, Allen, Anthony and Iverson between 2-5 and I say it's a distinction without a difference.

I do think Mullin is better than most here give him credit for being in both college and the pros.

 

[Chin Diesel]

He has the most NBA points of any former Big East player.

Yeah, he worded it awkwardly which is why I deleted my response.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Ewing was a 4 year impact player in BE when schools were dominated by upper classes.

3 FF's . One win against Houston and Olajuwon. Two of the most iconic losses in chip game.

He's a clear #1.

You can argue over Mullin, Allen, Anthony and Iverson between 2-5 and I say it's a distinction without a difference.

I do think Mullin is better than most here give him credit for being in both college and the pros.

The topic was best NBA player to come out of the Big East, not best player in the Big East.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Ewing was a 4 year impact player in BE when schools were dominated by upper classes.

3 FF's . One win against Houston and Olajuwon. Two of the most iconic losses in chip game.

He's a clear #1.

You can argue over Mullin, Allen, Anthony and Iverson between 2-5 and I say it's a distinction without a difference.

I do think Mullin is better than most here give him credit for being in both college and the pros.

Isn't the debate the best NBA player to have played in the Big East? I don't think college career is really relevant to that.

That said, I would also go with Ewing.

 

[Palatine]

The best NBA players to come out of the Big East, in order of NBA accomplishment were...

1- Patrick Ewing.
2- Ray Allen
3- Allen Iverson
4- Richard "Rip" Hamilton
4- Malik Sealy

 

[EricLA]

Not to take a left turn on the thread topic, but I'm curious - is there anyone besides Carmelo who is considered a "great" (or even a very good) who came out of Syracuse? It's shocking how few have had an impact in the NBA besides Carmelo. Just asking since I love rubbing Cuse fans' noses in anything possible...

Was thinking maybe Sherman Douglas, Derrick Coleman, Rony Seikaly, and Hakim Warrick? They were all a while ago so I'm not sure of their NBA careers, but the amount of UCONN alums in the NBA who have had solid to very good to great careers seems exponentially higher... who wanted to play crap zone their entire college career anyway???

 

[CardiacAndre7]

The best NBA players to come out of the Big East, in order of NBA accomplishment were...

1- Patrick Ewing.
2- Ray Allen
3- Allen Iverson
4- Richard "Rip" Hamilton
4- Malik Sealy

The top 3 order doesn’t really make sense. If you’re weighing Championships to the highest degree (which I would disagree with being the case) Ray should be first. If not, Ewing and AI should be 1a-1b.

 

[superjohn]

Ewing was a 4 year impact player in BE when schools were dominated by upper classes.

3 FF's . One win against Houston and Olajuwon. Two of the most iconic losses in chip game.

He's a clear #1.

You can argue over Mullin, Allen, Anthony and Iverson between 2-5 and I say it's a distinction without a difference.

I do think Mullin is better than most here give him credit for being in both college and the pros.

The question was who is the best NBA player to come out of the Big East.

 

[ucp990411]

Iverson. If we're including schools in the Big East now, Wade.

Wade over Ray? Not in my opinion. Ray is the 2nd greatest 3 point shooter in history. Why do so many people refuse to give our players the respect they should ge given?

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Wade over Ray? Not in my opinion. Ray is the 2nd greatest 3 point shooter in history. Why do so many people refuse to give our players the respect they should ge given?

Wade was simply a better NBA player. It’s not really up for debate.

 

[businesslawyer]

Ewing. Then Iverson. Then you can start arguing.

 

[JB75]

In no particular order -
Ray ray
Ewing
Iverson
Melo (even tho only stayed a year)
Mullin
Also , (Kerry kittles, Lawrence moten, Pearl Washington -if you are talking just great big east players)

 

[QDOG5]

Let's keep it to players who played in the Big East. No offense to Wade but he didn't play in the Big East.